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1Progress F. Mukuvisi was a Master of Science in Human Resource Management student at the Department of Human Resource Management, Julius Nyerere School of Social Sciences, Great Zimbabwe University, Zimbabwe. He can be reached at: takupiwa@gmail.com
2Takupiwa Nyanga is currently working as an Lecturers at the Department of Human Resource Management, Julius Nyerere School of Social Sciences, Great Zimbabwe University, Zimbabwe.
3Nhamo Mashavira is currently working as an Lecturers at the Department of Human Resource Management, Julius Nyerere School of Social Sciences, Great Zimbabwe University, Zimbabwe.
The main intention of the study was to investigate and establish strategies for managing job-related stress for Private Voluntary Organization (PVO) employees in psycho-socially challenging work environments. The study was purely qualitative, where semi-structured interviews were utilized to assemble data from 15 participants drawn from PVOs in Harare in Zimbabwe. A purposive, non-probability sampling technique was employed to choose the 15 participants. Data assembled from semi-structured interviews were presented and analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. The study found out that the sources of work-related stress at PVOs are unachievable targets, poor ergonomics, poor remunerations, and relations between management and workers. The strategies that are employed by organizations to reduce workplace-related stress are counseling, flexible work arrangements, incentives, providing leave and off days, clinical supervision, and leisure activities. Employees also employ stress coping strategies, such as hobbies. The study recommends that organizations should engage workers who work in psychosocially challenging work environments when making decisions that relate to their work rather than just imposing policies and activities on them. It was also recommended that the physical infrastructure and layouts at work should meet all the requirements of people with disabilities standards, and organizations should also hire professional supervisors to supervise social workers.
Stress, Humanitarian, Private voluntary organizations, Counseling, Emergencies
JEL Classification: G21, G43, J3
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